Manson School District places replacement EP & 0 levy on February ballot

MANSON - The Manson School Board has passed a resolution placing a levy proposition on the Feb. 9  Chelan County Special Election Ballot.  If approved, the levy would replace an expiring Educational Programs and Operation (EP & O) Levy passed by voters in February 2019.
Historically, Manson has run 2-year EP&O levies, formerly known as M&O levies. The EP&O levy approved in 2019 will expire in 2021. The proposed replacement EP&O levy would run in 2022 and 2023.
The current voter approved amount scheduled to be collected this year (2021) is $1,536,273.  The proposed amounts for 2022 and 2023 are $1,671,774 and $1,738,474, respectively.
Manson’s EP & O levy funding is approximately 13% of the district’s total funding and pays for those items not fully covered under the state funding model:
    •    Instructional staff, including teachers, para educators, and librarians.
    •    Health and student safety, including nurses, school resource officers, and counselors.
    •    Instructional programs/technology:
    •    College and advance placement courses in the high school
    •    Preschool for all 4 year olds
    •    High school internships program
    •    Support of the arts (music, drama, art)
    •    Vocational classes (shop, ag classes, business, technology)
    •    Technology support
    •    Replacement of computers/devices
    •    Beyond the School Day Programs
    •    After school enrichment and academic intervention classes
    •    Middle/High school athletics (coaches, referees, travel, uniforms, equipment)
    •    Clubs (pep band, FBLA, FFA, Knowledge Bowl).
    •    Food Service (supplements inadequate state funding)
An informational meeting for the public will be held at Manson High School on Jan. 21 via ZOOM.   Additional informational meetings can be scheduled by calling 687-3140.  Information is also available on the district website at www.manson.org including an individual tax calculator where taxpayers can determine their estimated local school tax using their property assessed value amounts